THE AUTHORITARIAN MASTER - VOICES, AMAECHI, WIKE AND THE 2002 POWER ROTATION AGREEMENT IN RIVERS STATE:
by Rowland Orlu
How it all began..
Introduction:
As we are discovering in Rivers State and many other States in the country, it has never been easy transiting from one epochal order to another without the presence of the authoritarian master - voices and their quest to polarize ethnic unity for self serving purposes. Most times the hurdles and hiccups in tribal unification are so monumental that the true patriots would want to give up. Watching the authoritarian master - voices so embroiled in the drama of self - regeneration from the ring side, one is bound to come to gloomy conclusions about the prospects of their mischievous claim of the Igboid Mafia engineered to rule Rivers State for 56 years with Ikwerre having a share of 24 years.
Yet the longer history perspective suggests an entirely ultimate rationality to ethnic and human evolution which brings about mutual understanding among ethnic political elites for a more peaceful geo - political order in the society. No man has been born who will stem the tide of political history in Rivers State. No matter how exceptionally important the authoritarian master - voices think they are to the scheme of things in Rivers politics, they will eventually have to bow to the implacable and impersonal forces of history engineered by the larger Ikwerre Nation through a patriotic son, Rt Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.
The authoritarian master - voices conjured statement of an Igboid Mafia in Rivers politics widely believed to have taken root from Dr. Peter Odili's political dynasty from 1999 - 2007, is by nature extremely misleading and unfortunate.
For the purposes of posterity and history. Similarity in language sounds does not make the Ihuruonha (Ikwerre) man an Igbo man. The similarity was generated during early wave of migration by the Igbos into Ihuruonha lands basically for trade. it is imperative to state that, it is callous to group the distinct Ihuruonha 27 language sounds as Igboid.
According to the master - voices, they were trying to convince enlightened Rivers people that, the purpose of the Mafia is to ensure that only Igbo - speaking ethnic groups control political and economic power in Rivers State. Ironically, the master - voices tactically excluded the bilingual people of Bonny, Opobo, Okirika and Kalabari. According to the master - voices, the composition of their imaginary Igboid Mafia is drawn from Ikwerre, Etche, Ndoni, Ogba, Ndoki, Kalabari, Okirika, Ogoni. Purporting that ethnic representatives were purely self serving, especially the father figure of the Igboid Mafia group former Governor Peter Odili.
Former Governor Peter Odili is a well respected medical doctor tuned politician from Ndoni who in 1999 became the Governor of Rivers State voted by all ethnic Nationalities in Rivers State. And not largely restricted to the Ijoid groups. Dr. Odili's emergence did not plant the seed of any Mafia cabal according to the delusionary disposition of the authoritarian master - voices. As every progressive Governor would act, Dr. Odili prudently put together technocrats, progressive thinkers, Royal fathers, professionals from all ethnic groups to form part of his cabinet. For the sole purposes of rapid development.
HOW IT ALL BEGAN:
Dr. Peter Odili emerged not because of any hidden same language Mafia group, he was elected because he was the the most likable Candidate then in all ethnic groups. The after election creation of cabinet members, was not to protect himself from attacks from the Ijoid groups (Ijaw Rivers) which also comprised of the Kalabaris, Okirikas etc. The composition was basically for an all inclusive representation of all ethnic groups in Rivers State. Unfortunately, the it-must-me group are the ones stating that Governor Odili sowed the seed of the Igboid Mafia group in Rivers State.
Before the amalgamation of old Rivers State, the core Ijaws of present day Bayelsa were the political dominant factors. After the amalgamation, our political founding fathers came together for the cardinal aim of fostering ethnic unity and peaceful political transition. The core Ijaw dominant political structure naturally collapsed giving way for a new all inclusive political dynasty represented by elites from major and minor political groups in Rivers State.
There is absolutely nothing like the Igboid Mafia in Rivers State political space. The political fortunes of respected Kalabari leaders such as Alabo T.O Graham-Douglas, Dr. Omobo Isokrari etc did not and has never suffered drastic reversal as asserted by members of the infamous authoritarian master - voices. For the mere fact that they chose not to be politically active after Governor Odili's exit does not make them politically irrelevant. Late Dr. Marshall Harry and Chief A.K Dikibo of blessed memories, were eminent sons of Rivers State who worked tirelessly for the unity of ethnic nationalities while canvassing for Riverine Governor. They lived exemplary lives worthy of emulation.
The master- voices claimed that the Igboid Mafia had eminent Ikwerre sons like Governor Nyesom Wike, former Governor Omehia, former Deputy Speaker of the House of Reps, Hon Austin Opara, O.C.J Okocha SAN and Chief Sergeant Awuse. Because these eminent Ikwerre sons were the ones who championed the revolt against the power rotation agreement. This assertion is again misleading. They also went further to state that, Prince Emma Anyanwu and Hon Desmond Akawor from Etche and Ndoki, Bro Felix Obuah and Shederack Akalokwu were believed to be the point men from Ogba/Egbema axis. In all these delusionary mischievous hatchets to portray the Ikwerre man a bad egg.
In the bid to further display traits of ethnic hostilities while hiding behind a wall. The master- voices declared Prince Uche Secondus, Dame Patience Jonathan (said to be Igbo by birth), Chief Feddy Alabraba, Senator George Sekigbo and Dr. Abiye Sekibo, Kenneth Kobani as those driven by the aspiration to share political and economic power among themselves. This assertion is however right, given the fact that, these people never cared about power shift like Governor Chibuike Ritimi Amaechi did.
It is however, disheartening that, the master - voices could maintain their stand concerning Patience Jonathan, Wike, Rivers Ijaw and Ogoni elements in the so called Mafia accusing them of concealing the true mission of the cabal, which is, according to the master - voices, to coarse Igboid rule over Rivera State for 60 years in total exclusion of the Ijoid and Ogoni nations. Here again this group has shown clearly that, its cardinal agenda is nothing but to cause tribal disaffection. Why state that, Rivers Ijaw and the Ogonis are members of the infamous Igboid Mafia and the same Rivers Ijaw and Ogonis are excluded. The petrifying truth is, the Riverine Kalabari Ijaw have denied their ethnicity the chance to produce the next Governor of Rivers State.
Furthermore, it is extremely wrong to state that, in 1999, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was forcefully confiscated and the founding members, including BOT members excommunicated. Former Governor Rufus Ada- George chased into exile by Governor Odili and the Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly. While Alabo T.O. Graham- Douglas was sacked as a Federal Minister.
Unfortunately, the master- voices got it wrong again this time. The Rivers State House of Assembly as at 1999- 2007 was adjourned the best most active and peaceful legislative House in Nigeria, led by Rt Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi as Speaker. The Executive, Legislative and Judiciary enjoyed an outstanding cooperation in governance. Little wonder they functioned independently without cross interference. The House was never ineffective nor was the appointment of the Chief Judge of the State manipulated. The Swift Operations Squad (SOS) of the Nigerian Police then was diligent and professional, therefore, were never used against perceived political opponents. Violence was tamed in Rivers State all through .
In 2007, Governor Odili's insistence that his successor must come from Ihuruonha (Ikwerre) had no stiff opposition from the Rivers Ijaw leadership. Nor was there any counterproductive plan that after Ikwerre the Governorship would shift to Ndoki with Desmond Akawor waiting on the block. After Governor Odili's declaration of his successor, the seamless savant former Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi was chosen to succeed Governor Odili. This didn't go down well with the authoritarian master- voices who saw Amaechi as a stubborn but principled unbinding individual. Actually, there was internal revolt against Governor Amaechi by the then Chief of Staff of the Government House, Hon Nyesom Wike.
Most followers of Nyesom Wike's revolt against Governor Amaechi, never knew the genesis and root cause of the revolt. The revolt was precipitated by a political cabal led by Wike within the Amaechi's administration who perceived Governor Amaechi's policy statement that power must rotate in Rivers State as a strangulating stand on their self serving ambitions. Simply put, Amaechi said Ikwerre must not rule again, that singular pronouncement became the root cause of all the hate speeches and actions against Amaechi till date. Of a truth, if Amaechi was selfish and callous as often described by his haters wouldn't he have declared his intention to hang on to power through another Ikwerre son?. Also given the fact that, the four Ikwerre LGAs have the potency to retain power in the State.
After Wike's gang up against his former boss in 2015. Many including the authoritarian master- voices who at that time also participated in the revolt against Governor Amaechi, thought that Wike was merely masquerading about, till the support of former President Jonathan and Dame Patience Jonathan in conjunction with former Rivers State Police Commissioner retired, Joseph Mbu came to limelight. What was the price of that ungodly connivance against the Riverine Governorship pronouncement , Rivers State Oil wells to be seeded to Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom States among other things in exchange for power.
What some Rivers people, especially Kalabaris don't know is that Amaechi is fighting for their collective political survival. Again I was elated when the same authoritarian master- voices described Governor Amaechi as a righteous rebel who stood firm to disagree with the fundamental anti people objectives of the revolt orchestrated by Wike against the Riverine Kalabari Ijaw and declared that, for equity and fairness to reign, power must rotate among the ethnic groups in Rivers State. They also credited a positive statement to Amaechi, that if the Kalabaris and other ethnic groups allowed Nyesom Wike to be Governor in 2015, it will drive other selfish Ikwerre politicians to think that "only Ikwerre" speaking people can come together and elect themselves as governors. He therefore, called on all Ikwerre true patriots to rise against Wike's evil agenda. Amaechi also forewarned, if you allow Wike to succeed then forget your children, they will never be governors again because all it will take is, when he finishes another Ikwerre man will approach Ikwerre people. We must therefore, show justice and ensure that political power is equitably distributed even if you are an ethnic group of 20,000 persons, you have the right to the governorship of the State. Who could be fairer than this? Who could be impersonal like this?.
My joy is that, Chief Anabs Sara- Igbe placed an elder curse of the cosmic repercussion on those who truncated the zoning agreement.
Ironically, Chief Sara-Igbe is an Ijaw leader from Kalabari (Rivers Ijaw). A former special adviser to former Governor Odili on security matters during the time, Amaechi was the Speaker RHA. Chief Sara- Igbe was or still the spokesman of the Rivers Democratic Movement (RDM).
This seems the electrifying part of this narrative. Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe insisted that, there was actually a zoning agreement agreed upon by political elites from different ethnicities in Rivers State. That zoning agreement according to him culminated in Ikwerre taking the first shot at the governorship in 2007. Note that, prior to 2007 Ikwerre nation had fought tirelessly for the governorship of Rivers State through the likes of Eric Asor and Sergeant Awuse etc, since the creation of old Rivers State.
Nevertheless, in between 2002, some authoritarian master- voices of Rivers State who had become tired of Odili's maladministration (as they claimed) gathered under the auspices of the Rivers Democratic Movement (RDM) and bestowed upon themselves the authority to proffer solutions to the problems of Rivers State led by Governor Odili and Amaechi as Speaker. According to Sara- Igbe RDM members were drawn from Kalabari, Ikwerre, Ogoni, Okirika, Ogba, Engenni, Abua, Odual, Opobo, Bonny, Eleme, Tai, Ndoni, Etche, Omuma and other parts of the State. It's membership included Alabo T..O. Douglas, Chief Rufus Ada- George, Late Chief Marshall Harry of blessed memory, HRM Eze Akaninwa of blessed memory, Chief Badom, Bishop Elkanah Hanson, Chief Bekinbo Soberekon, Engr. Sampson Ngeregbara, Mr. Pedro Egbe, Mr. Harvey Warmer etc. A statement credited to RDM spokesman Chief Sara-Igbe had it that, one of the issues deliberated was the rotation of political power among ethnic nationalities in Rivers State. In a manner that will not endanger the peaceful coexistence of Rivers people. Note that, by these period, Odili was Governor, Amaechi was the Speaker of RSHA, Nyesom Wike was Obio/Akpor LGA Chairman. RDM further stated through its spokesperson that, for Rivers State to develop proportionately, governorship must rotate among different geo- political zones. During the deliberation, there were pockets of distrust highlighted by Ikwerre representatives against the Kalabaris who they accused of supporting Odili other than the most popular PDP candidate then, Chief Sergeant Awuse. However, after accusation and counter accusations, it was unanimously agreed that Ikwerre people should kick start the zoning agreement. According to RDM to achieve an effective rotation plan, Rivers State was severed into nine geo- political zones as follows; (1) Orashi which has already taken power through Governor Odili, (2) Ikwerre, (3) Kalabari, (4) Ogoni, (5) Ibani, (u6) Etche/Omuma, (7) Obolo, (9) Oyigbo/Ndoki/ Asa and (9) Okirika before the governorship will return back to Orashi.
To further buttress Amaechi's insistence on power shift particularly to the Riverine. A publication was made by the late Eze S.O. Akaninwa in the BeaconNewspapaer of Friday August 30th 2002, page 8. With the following: (1) The establishment of a common platform for Rivers Ethnic Nationalities, (2) The formation of an acceptable power sharing formula in Rivers State (3) The enthronement of a government of Rivers people and for Rivers people. This publication was in tandem with the agreement drawn up by members of RDM and accepted by Governor Peter Odili during a meeting in Government House involving Chief G.U. Ake of blessed memory, Prince Uche Secondus, Rt Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, Alabo T.O. Graham- Douglas, Sotonye Ijuye- Dagogo,, Theodore Georgewill, Late Maulo Oruene Heart, Chief Anabs Sara- Igbe to further discuss the power rotation issue even though the meeting was called basically for reconciliation between Governor Odili and Alabo T.O. Graham-Douglas.
Most importantly, when power shifted to Ikwerre and Amaechi was chosen to succeed Governor Odili in 2007, Rt Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi met with the Kalabari Chiefs and Elders Council and agreed that he will ensure that Kalabari gets a shot at the governorship.
Following the various agreements even though they weren't documented, has Dr. Peter Odili not fulfilled his promise by handing power over to Ikwerre?, Has Amaechi not also fulfilled his promise by fighting for the Kalabaris till date?. Did the Kalabaris stand firm by their aspiration? Did majority of them not connive with Wike to further deny their ethnicity the right to rule?. Has Amaechi not supported the Riverine and Kalabari Governorship course with his heart, resources, integrity and capacity?. Was Amaechi not abandoned in the middle of the desert by those who think their selfish interest is bigger than their ethnic interest? Where did Amaechi go wrong?.
I believe the Riverine Kalabari political elites have numerous questions to answer concerning how they obliterated their first chance with the excuse that, the ethnicity wasn't ready for governorship. Before another Riverine son, Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside was chosen. They will also explain to their kinsmen and posterity why they refused to support their brothers, Arc Pastor Tonye Cole, Chief Dumo Lulu- Briggs, Fingisi and Arawa no matter the party affiliation. Instead they ganged up with Nyesom Wike an Ikwerre son who was privy to the power rotation agreement to revolt, out of his personal urge for political power.
In all fairness Amaechi and the larger well meaning Ikwerre people have fulfilled their side of the power rotation bargain. Amaechi stood by his words before Heaven and the cosmic repercussions will not come his tent. Most Kalabari political pundits including RDM vehemently stepped aside, folded their arms and allowed Rt Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi fight alone against a coalition of authoritarian master - voices in Rivers State.
Where is that burning Kalahari dream? What has happened to their once impenetrable unity? What has become of their collective resolve? What punctured their drive? Who and what took them back the political line?. Where is that flame and hunger for power that once took centre stage?
Posterity will stand to judge those who aided to truncate their inheritance and those who fought for their inheritance. History is our witness.
Rowland Orlu wrote from Port Harcourt.
